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The Glass Lake Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Glass Lake


Glass Lake

By Maeve Binchy

Another beautiful tale from Binchy. This time she has dealt a very tough issue of a woman faithless in her marriage. The story is that of a Mother abandoning her family in quest of love. The story spans over a decade and with so many characters, each of them so well described in the simple style of Binchy. Even though the plot is not original, it is the handling of the subject and the supporting character which makes it a refreshing read.
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This book is a haunting and poignant story of a brave woman Helen McMahon who leaves security, her husband and her children, for a life with a Lover. Her simple faith that love alone is enough motivates her actions. However circumstances lead her family and neighbours to the conclusion that she is drowned in the lake bordering the town with a controversy of whether it was an accident or suicide.

After sacrificing her children and security, the path of Helen turns rocky. Too late she realises her lover is flighty and an inveterate flirt. She contrives to provide for herself as well as him and match makes for her friends. As a personal consolation, she somehow contrives to correspond in secrecy, with her daughter in the guise of being her mothers friend.

Her young daughter Kit MacMahon, who not only loses her mother, but also is riddled with guilt of hiding a secret from her father is in dire need of companionship. She responds to the overtures of a long lost friend of her mother and gets over the tragedy with this bond. When she stumbles on the fact that her mother is still alive, she comes to terms with the womanly needs of her mother which drove to her flight. Her character emerges as a mature woman who supports her parents through all situations. She is rewarded by finding her love right next door!

The story is ably supported by a host of characters of the one-street town. There is Sister Bernadine, the Doctor and his family, Capitol Hotel owners, little Emmet. She manages to weave a whole new world with her characters in the town where everyone just fit in.


The review of this Book prepared by peekay



Chapter Analysis of The Glass Lake

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Plot & Themes

Time/era of story    -   1930's-1950's Romance/Romance Problems    -   Yes Family, loving relations    -   Yes Special relationship with    -   mother Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Married, fooling around?    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Female Profession/status:    -   student Age:    -   a teen

Setting

Europe    -   Yes European country:    -   Ireland

Writing Style

Amount of dialog    -   significantly more dialog than descript

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Maeve Binchy Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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